BENSONHURST'S PREMIER NEWS BLOG

Source: NYPD

Salvatore Perrone, the man charged with with three counts of murder and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the murders of three shopkeepers  pleaded not guilty on Thursday.

As more details emerge of his mental health, motive becomes more difficult to find.

Perrone, who is divorced, often spent time at Natasha Charova’s place, his girlfriend. Chernova’s neighbor Ben Elchonen said Perrone was a wannabe tough guy.

“He was the kind of guy who you could tell had watched ‘The Godfather’ too many times,” said Ben Elchonen to the Chicago Tribune.

The New York Daily News writes that a source close to the investigation reported that Perrone told interrogating officers that he works for the CIA.

Perrone is in protective custody on Rikers Island and his court date is set for Monday.

Source: NYPD

On Wednesday, Salvatore Perrone was charged with the murders of three shopkeepers. He’s confessed to two of the slayings.

Perrone, a 64-year-old salesman, was picked up in Bay Ridge after being recognized by a tipster in a pharmacy after police released surveillance video from the scene of the last murder.

He ate, smoked and openly talked to the cops, according to the New York Daily News. He then confessed to two of the murders and fell asleep.

“He just stopped talking. Who can explain it? You’re not going to be able to explain this guy at all,” a source told the Daily News. “I’m not a psychologist, but he seems to have mental problems. He’s a little delusional.”

A police officer standing in front of police tape at She She Boutique on Thursday night also said that Perrone might just be crazy.

Investigators found a Ruger 10-22 carbine rifle with a sawed-off stock in a black duffel bag at Perrone’s girlfriend’s place.

No motive seems present as of yet. Police tried to talk to him about issues in the clothing business, his family or any links to race. Perrone didn’t flare up at any of the suggestions.

When police questioned his neighbors, they all generally agreed that he was a pest and an irksome neighbor.

“If he is convicted, we’ll throw a block party,” the neighbor said. “He’s insane. But a serial killer? That’s a long stretch.”

According to ballistic tests, the sawed-off gun that was found had been used in all of the killings.

At a press conference, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly was smiling. He stated that ammo and a knife were found too. They’ve taken the knife in for analysis to see if it matches the wounds Isaac Kadare incurred in his neck.

“We know that he went to other locations, and asked questions that indicated that. Now that we look at them, he may very well have been planning to come back,” said Kelly.

“He does seem that he could have some mental-health issues,” said Ken Jones, a court-appointed lawyer.

“He denies all the allegations.” he added. “He denies making any incriminating statements.”

Perrone’s next scheduled court appearance is November 27.

Police have shifted their focus from the man in the sunglasses, a sketch released earlier, to the man carrying the duffel bag in a surveillance video taken at the scene of the crime.

According to an ABC article, they may have taken someone who fits the description into custody early Tuesday afternoon.

It isn’t clear yet what, if anything, the man in this surveillance video has to do with the shopkeeper serial killer. Sources for the Post state that the same man was captured on tape in Bensonhurst, close to the site where Isaac Kadare was murdered.

Though Kelly is quick to shoot down the claim.

“That’s not the case,” he said.

Instead, Kelly pointed out that the covering of the victims’ faces with an aluminum tray, cardboard or clothing may be a significant detail.

Also, police have ruled out the man with the sunglasses, stating that he had nothing to do with the slayings, according to a New York Post article.

“That was a sketch that surfaced with one of the previous murders, it is no longer relevant,” said NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly. “That individual washed out again. That individual was somebody we wanted to talk to, who may have been in the area. He’s not a subject, he’s a person we simply wanted to speak to.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Senator Martin Golden and Councilman David Greenfield increased the reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the man wanted for the three shopkeeper murders. It’s now $40,000.

The more recent of the three shootings occurred last Friday. Rahmatolla Vahidipour, a Jewish 78-year-old grandfather of nine was murdered inside of his Flatbush Avenue store, She She Boutique.

“Our police department and community will not rest until this killer is brought to justice. We won’t allow an individual to terrorize our neighborhoods and leave business owners fearing for their lives. Someone out there has information about these cold-blooded crimes, and hopefully this reward money will motivate them to do the right thing. Anybody who noticed unusual or suspicious activity in the vicinity of any of these three shootings is urged to immediately contact the police,” said Greenfield in a press release.

Local politicians including Greenfield, Councilman Vincent Gentile and Councilman Mathieu Eugene held a meeting with the NYPD to discuss progress and strategy to capture the killer.

“I remain deeply troubled by these senseless acts of violence,” wrote Gentile in a statement. “We as residents must always remain vigilant but as the representative for Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst, I refuse to let my neighborhoods live in fear.”

Surveillance footage from a store near the scene has narrowed the police investigation to a person of interest they’re calling “Jon Doe Duffel Bag.”

As a means of precaution, store clerks are asked to avoid being alone in the shop after dark if possible. Instead, use a buddy system. Also, a video surveillance system might be a good idea since the killer has only targeted stores without surveillance.

Anyone with information is urged to immediately contact the NYPD at (800) 577-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous.

The serial killer who murdered two shopkeepers earlier this year has senselessly gunned down a third.

Rahmatolla Vahidipour is the latest victim. He was found shot inside of his Flatbush store on Friday evening. Police have linked the .22 caliber gun used in the previous murders to the shell casings found on Friday.

“Now it’s like he’s telling us, ‘It’s me again,’ ” a police source said to the New York Daily News.

The killer took the life of Mohammed Gebeli on July 6 in his Bay Ridge store, Valentino Fashion Inc. Then on August 2, he murdered Isaac Kadare in his Bensonhurst store, Amazing 99 Cent Deals.

Police are floating around several theories as to motive of the killer. Vahidipour was a devout Jewish man originally from Iran. Gebeli was a Muslim man hailing from Egypt and Kadare was Jewish from Egypt as well.

All three were of Middle Eastern descent.

“I hope he’s not targeting owners because they’re Jewish or from the Middle East because that’s becoming personal,” said Norman Mann, a Middle Eastern owner of a Flatbush Avenue store.

Investigators think that the killer entered the store right before closing time and shot Vahidipour in the head and chest. Then, he dragged the store owner’s body to the back of the shop and threw clothing on it to cover it up.

“I hope they catch the son of a bitch,” said Gebeli’s son, Mourad, who now runs his father’s Bay Ridge store.

Vahidipour’s family is devastated. The grandfather of nine was supposed to head over to his grandson’s bar mitzvah over the weekend.

“We are miserable,” said his daughter Yasmin Vahidipour at the family’s home in Great Neck, Long Island. “He was kind. He was loyal. He was the best father. He was the best (husband) that ever lived.”

Another theory police are investigating is a theory based on the addresses of the stores and a numerology link. Kadare’s store was at 1877 86th Street, Gebeli’s store was located at 7718 Fifth Avenue and Vahidipour’s She She Boutique was at 834 Flatbush Avenue. The address for each crime scene features the number 8.

Robbery is not considered a motive as money was taken from Gebeli and Kadare, but not Vahidipour.

Police are hunting for the killer, who is about 5-feet-5 and 140 pounds. They are offering a $12,000 reward for any information that leads to a conviction of the killer.

A man in his 20′s was found stabbed to death at 2027 Stillwell Avenue near Avenue T, before midnight on Tuesday.

Police on the scene said that the victim had stab wounds to his neck and abdomen. No arrests have been made and the man’s identity has not been released, according to DNA info.

When police arrived on Bay 34th and Bath Avenue at 3:40 a.m. early Monday morning, they found a 31-year-old man fatally beaten.

Police were responding to an assault distress call. They have reports that there were five persons responsible and they escaped in a silver mini-van, according to the New York Daily News.

The man was rushed to Lutheran Medical Center. His identity has yet to be released.

Source: Google Maps

A man was found stabbed to death in front of 1360 40th Street in Borough Park over the weekend.

Police responded to a distress call on Friday evening shorty after 11:30 p.m. and found the victim with a stab wound to the stomach when they arrived, according to CBS New York.

The man was dead when the cops arrived.

Police are investigating the crime and have no further details to release at this time.

Amazing 99-Cent & Up Deals, the place where store-owner and father of four Isaac Kadare was murdered is on the market.

The body was found at 1877 86th Street by two customers at about on August 2. His wife and children, who often helped him out in the store, obviously do not want to keep hold of the business where Kadare was killed.

Kadare’s murder was later connected to the July murder of Bay Ridge shopkeeper Mohammed Gebeli. Both men were shot in their with a .22 caliber gun in their stores.

Police released a sketch of the suspect and some clues to his identity, but nothing has been heard of the case since. Whether the trail has gone cold or they are waiting for the right time to act remains to be seen.